Carlos Prates is looking to secure a welterweight title shot at UFC Perth.

Prates is set to headline the Fight Night card on May 2 against Jack Della Maddalena in a highly anticipated fight. Heading into the bout, Prates is a -106 underdog while the Aussie is a -120 favorite on FanDuel.

Although Prates is a slight underdog, he has full confidence that he won’t just be able to get the win, but will score a KO win over Della Maddalena to send a statement to the welterweight division.

“I think that beating a former champion for the second time in a row, and by knockout, will lock in the title shot,” Prates told MMA Fighting. “There’s no one else for them to give the fight to but me. If everything goes right and I win another bonus, that’ll be eight fights and seven bonuses. Come on, who else is there? Is [Michael] Morales going to fight? How? In what way? There’s no way. He’s never beaten a former champion. The kid is undefeated, he’s good, but there’s no way.”

If Prates does KO Della Maddalena, the Brazilian would have a good case to get the next welterweight title shot. However, Prates believes Ian Garry deserves the first crack at Islam Makhachev, who said he will return in August. But, he does think beating Della Maddalena will put him next in line after Garry.

Carlos Prates is expecting tough fight at UFC Perth

Although Prates does expect to KO Della Maddalena at UFC Perth, he does believe this is the toughest fight of his career.

Della Maddalena is a former champion who went five rounds with Makhachev, which not everyone can do. So, Prates knows he has his hands full, but is confident he is the better striker.

“He’s that kind of boxer who doesn’t move his head much and throws his hands trying to knock you out, you know?” Prates said. “He’s a good boxer, and I’m a good striker. I can also throw knees, kicks, elbows. Let’s see how he reacts on May 2.”

Carlos Prates enters UFC Perth with a record of 23-7 and is coming off a KO win over Leon Edwards. Prior to that, he scored a KO win over Geoff Neal.

Do you think Carlos Prates will beat Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth? Sound off in the comment section, PENN Nation!